50,000 Lankans lost jobs due to world economic crisis

(October 05, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Over 50,000 Lankans have been rendered jobless due to the global economic crisis, says the Ministry of Labour Relations. “This figure was arrived at after a survey carried out last month,” said Mahinda Madiyahewa, Secretary to the Ministry.

The survey, carried out for one month, gathered data on the number of individuals earning below Rs. 20,000 per month, who had lost their jobs.

The official said that a programme would be implemented to provide those individuals with unemployment benefits under an insurance scheme.

Accordingly, Mr. Madiyahewa said that those individuals would be provided with a monthly sum until they secured employment.

A group of experts from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) is scheduled to arrive in the island this week to provide the government with expertise regarding implementing this scheme.

-Sri Lanka Guardian